Last of Us It’s quite a musical show. Cry to Linda Ronstadt’s “Long Long Time,” jam out to Depeche Mode’s “Never Let Me Down Again,” then cry. again To the same Depeche Mode song. But Episode 7, titled “Left Behind,” may be the most musical episode yet.
“Left Behind” delves into Ellie’s (Bella Ramsey) backstory through flashbacks of a night she and best friend Riley (Storm Reed) spent in an abandoned mall. From the opening flashback scene, it’s immediately clear that music plays a big role in the episode. Ellie is listening to Pearl’s jam “All or None” on her Walkman while she runs raps at her FEDRA school.Then, in a series of shots of her room full of Easter eggs, we see a stack of cassette tapes, including one from Etta James. tell mom and A-ha’s Headlines and deadlines: A-ha hits.
‘The Last of Us’ Episode 7 ending tragically links to a pivotal scene in Episode 4
Songs from both albums appear later in the episode, but these aren’t just needle drops. Last of Us game. Method is as follows.
“I Got You Babe” by Etta James.
Bella Ramsey and Storm Reed in The Last of Us.
Credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO
Etta James’ cover of Sonny and Cher’s classic duet appears in the same spot on both Left Behind and Left Behind. The Last of Us: Left Behind DLC on which episodes are based. Riley performs her song for Ellie and the two dance together before kissing.In the DLC, Riley mentions that she was the one who gave Ellie James’ tapes. We don’t have that exchange on the show, but the fact that Ellie keeps it near her room, like her Will Livingston jokebook and her beloved cartoon, shows how much it means to her. is emphasized.
‘Take On Me’ by A-ha.
Bella Ramsey and Storm Reed in The Last of Us.
Credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO
both Last of Us While “I Got You Babe” is used exactly the same in the show and game, A-ha’s “Take On Me” gets a slightly different treatment. In the show, it plays while Ellie marvels at the wonder of working mall escalators. is giving to Sure, this mall is looted and covered in classic apocalyptic rubble, but for Ellie, this is a whole new world! I get it perfectly. Additionally, the scene contains a fun nod to the song’s lyrics. When Ellie gets off Riley’s escalator, she tells her, “I’m coming for you.” I’m coming for your love, right? (This is a key moment, considering Ellie and Riley share a sweet kiss later in the episode.)
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The Last of Us Part II Giving “Take On Me” a more sombre context. Mourning her devastating loss, Ellie performs “Take On Me” for her girlfriend Dina. Ellie’s version is much sadder and slower than the original, lending it a romantic and tragic feel. This combination of romance and tragedy also extends to the song’s use in the show. For starters, by performing “Take on Me” during the scene where Ellie interacts with Riley, the show establishes that this is a song that Ellie associates with her love, and A-ha’s original version of the song. An upbeat sound accentuates the excitement and anxiety of her crush. However, Ellie and Riley’s story ended sadly and the two never got enough time to explore their romantic relationship.If Ellie played “Take On Me” for Dina in Season 2 of Last of Usperhaps she, along with the audience, is thinking of Riley.
‘All or None’ by Pearl Jam.
Bella Ramsey in “The Last of Us.”
Credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO
It’s interesting to see Pearl Jam’s ‘All or None’ appear on ‘Left Behind’. Last of Us game. But another Pearl Jam song, “Future Days,” The Last of Us Part II. Remember how in Episode 6 Joel admitted he wanted to be a singer, and how Ellie later claimed to sing for her? Part II, finally Joel gets Ellie to sing the song. “Future Days” is the song he goes with.
It’s a poignant song choice, with lines like “If I lost you/I’d surely lose myself,” which talks about the deep family bond between Joel and Ellie. The song becomes a motif through Part II, Ellie often plays it when she thinks of Joel. Her instrumental playing of “Future Days” has even more emotional weight since he gave her the guitar and taught her how to play.
In the show’s timeline, Cordyceps’ outbreak year has been changed from 2013 to 2003, so using “Future Day” as the next season’s needle drop is chronologically incorrect. However, including “All or None,” which came out in 2002, is a nice way to keep the timeline accurate while also highlighting Pearl’s connection to his jams and franchises. The lyrics here also talk about Ellie’s situation at her FEDRA school. “It’s a hopeless situation,” the song begins, reflecting Ellie’s desperate attitude toward Riley’s disappearance. . This comes through literally as Ellie runs laps around the gym, metaphorically representing how she tries to hold out without Riley.
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“All or None” is a solid Pearl Jam Connection song choice here, but it also raises questions: Last of Us Season 2? It seems unlikely showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann will cut the scene, given its significance. Or will it branch out completely? Based on the selection of songs from the show as a whole so far, especially “Left Behind,” I have the feeling that another great but devastating needle drop is somewhere on the horizon. I’m here. Let the music…and let the tears flow.
The Last of Us is streaming now HBO MaxNew episodes air every Sunday at 9pm ET on HBO.(opens in new tab)
